OK, so if people have left or been banned or for whatever reason are no longer around, why are they still on the member list?

I think that would be up to Paperpusher to remove names of members who are no longer here.
Or maby they will let the MOD play with the eraser.

I hope they have a big "eraser".

Bans are sometimes temporary, not all are consumed by fiery hell of diminished users past. Someone might be banned for a month and that's it. Or a day. I think it depends on the site and the the mods.

If people just went away, their username exists for ever more. Until, quoth a mod...

you so smart :swak!:

Thanks for the answer, doesn't quite make sense to me, but thanks anyway.

I think the answer you're looking for has something to do with how the software tracks user registrations. There are two unique identifiers for a user account 1) email address 2) user/screen name. If someone get's banned, the only way to control this is to keep that user in the system and prevent them from logging back in by setting a user account switch or status field (i.e. A=active, I=inactive). It could be this simple or the software may actually have a security file where different functionality can be independently set so that a user loses some capabilities and not others. Nonetheless the member must be in the system in order to prevent them from registering under a different screen name with the same email address. Basically, they can come back as a different user but would need a different email address as well.

Some of these different forums and/or message boards can track i.p. addresses, but because multiple people could have access to the same computers as well as one user logging in from several computers, banning act the i.p. address level a practical way to manage user accounts.

****disclaimer***** this is only my best guess and not an opinion I've arrived at from learning about how the HM forum software actually functions.

That does clear things up a little better, thanks.

No problem. I'm not sure if you noticed but some previous forum members like Patton and CommunityHagerstown no longer appear as members and any of their old post show in the system as guest_Patton or guest_communityhagerstown and any forum they started appears as -Patton- or -communityhagerstown-. I believe this is where the member was in good standing and simply had their user account canceled so they could re-register as a different user and use their regular email address when setting up the new member account.

That would make sense. Am I to assume that the overall top posters page is written in stone? I noticed that there are lots of names on there, and those memebers are no longer around. I guess in my mind they should have been removed, but what do I know?

My guess is that the top posters page is populated from a history file/database.

the majority of those top posters have been here for 5 yrs.( more or less) except for some very prolific posters who racked up numbers by posting in the word association thread

I just guess in my mind if they are gone, they should be gone.

This really depends on the capabilities of the software and how it is being used by licensed users. Again, I don't know exactly how this application works but IPS, Inc. could have developed the product where setup is user defined giving licensed users the ability and option to handle things like membership and security/permissions based on guidelines established by their independent organization(s). Some organizations may opt to not display historical information for inactive user accounts where another organization may want historical information displayed regardless of user status. It's all about flexibility.

A fan club forum I was on you paid a fee for a souvenier packet and got a card with your password to access the forum. Took more than an e-mail addy to get on there. Some thought it was terrible to keep out the gen. public. Some thought it was great, safe place.

well, the way I see it, the OWNERS of any forum can make the rules. So, if they want to charge and keep others out then thats their perogitive.

Keeping people out of a forum, well I never, oh yes I have, never mind.

The trouble with closed selective and restrictive forums is that they promote in-breeding and often result in stagnant ideas. There's no excitement when everyone agrees and there's no one to stir emotions.

Then, on the other end of the forum spectrum is the "flame board" where there are absolutely no restrictions of any kind. These don't last long either for obvious reasons.

South Mountain, PA is a forum?



Someone's gonna try to burn my house down for that one!

I think U R safe Jels. How many people up there actually know how to turn on a computer let alone log into the forums????

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I was pleasantly surprised at how many really ARE computer savvy! Guess when the "kids" started needing comps to complete their school-work, some households HAD to get up to speed. I can honestly say that EVERYBODY I know on the mountain (which ain't a bunch) has a PC. I know...surprised the hell out of me too!

New question, I wonder why the mods and admins don't come out to play anymore?

Good question, doubt we'll get an answer though.

Thanks, I tend to ask good ones every once and a while, but most of the time I guess I'm just too unqualified.

My Sophisticated Wild Arse Guess (SWAG), would be because someone may have attempted to disrupt their lifestyle.

funny, I was thinking the same thing earlier this morning. it seems like we've gone quite awhile "unsupervised", doesn't it? and i'm so happy to see that we haven't gone all "Lord of the Flies". yet.

Yet

I see it building though.

In my opinion Moderators and Administrators of boards should be seen and not heard, UNLESS, there is a blatant violation of the rules.

er, yeah. i just got caught up on a certain thread....

I've never frequented a site like that. Do they exist? If you think they do exist, how do you know? Are you sure the mods/admins aren't just different people at different times? Unless you're a mod or admin, you don't really know for sure.

All I can say is, I want what she is smoking or drinking.

Maby they are letting us police our selves. Out of site is a good thing T M

I don't know, policing and participating is two different things. When MS and PP were joining in the fun, it was OK with me. Maybe I've been watching too much of The Office, you know, where Michael Scott tries to be the friend instead of the boss.

If a mod/admin wish to participate in the friendly banter of the board, they should have a seperate account from their account of priviledge.

The only downfall to this method is, IF they get upset by someone all they have to do is log into their mod/admin account and assert their authority.

Or better phrased, abuse there authority.

What is the Fishing Limit of this forum?

Is it catch and release or catch and skin?

Just wondering.

Does anyone have the answer to Phil's question?

Right now it doesn't look like there is a limit.

And I don't see much releasing going on either.

Seems like a waste to me. It's not like anyone would bother to distinguish between the two accounts, knowing that it's the same person.

So, is the board back now? Is there a reason the board was brought back? If so, what is it? Is there going to be an announcement from the PTBs? I'm just curious.